Beautiful Monday after a long, hot weekend. It's still as hot as can be. In fact, it is 97 degrees on the tier today. But it's good to get back to a normal routine after a slow-movement weekend. I think the heat slows things down and really makes the surreal feeling you have about being confined a quick reality. The heat on the tier multiplies the level of laziness because all everyone wants to do is lay around. On a productive note, I received a letter back from the State, more specifically--- the "Office of Transitional Services", about our proposed program to help inmates successfully reenter society. Jay and I drafted a letter with a brief outline and synopsis of our program idea. Now keep in mind this program required no State funding. We were simply asking to be recognized in order to get a designated room and time in this institution to meet and develop this program. We knew it was a long shot and that we would have to go through hoops, but we figured the State would jump at any chance to help inmates without use of state funds (especially since we are in a recession). We should have known better based on the programs currently offered. They replied via letter, "We applaud your desire to provide pre-release education to the offender population on the fundamentals of how to get and keep a job. However, the department currently offers two programs, SEALLS and STARS, at each facility. Unfortunately, upon further review of your proposal, it lacks a detailed programmatic design and does not address the use of evidence based curricula."
"Typical" was my only response after reading their entire letter. Now I'm sure the state needs a lot more information then what we provided, but to completely shut the idea down and use the SEALL program as a comparison is just ludicrous. " SEALL" is Successful Employment and Lawful Living and I have already completed the program here. This program does not help inmates reenter society, nor does it provide contacts to get a job. Our program idea wanted to help inmates to actually begin the process of making the transition into the "real world" prior to leaving prison. And rather than requiring inmates to watch a DVD about it, our plan included providing motivated inmates with as many tools and opportunities as possible. Ultimately, we hoped this would equip and empower them to successfully reenter our world. Part of this plan included hooking them up with temporary housing, legitimate job contacts, appropriate clothing and other essentials that a typical inmate would ordinarily be lacking upon release. Our goal was to set everything up ahead of time.
And what does "lacked a detailed programmatic design," actually mean? The people who design the current programs have never even been inside of a prison---yet they cite the use of "evidence-based curricula." Sadly and ironically, these types of programs will continue to remain useless and inmates will continue to be thrown back into society ill-prepared with the odds stacked against them. Upon an inmate's initial release and his attempt to begin to make a lasting change, he will find himself jobless, homeless, and lacking the necessary tools to make it in the real world. Not to mention that the added label of "felon" doesn't lend itself to numerous job opportunities.
Our plan differed in that it was "Self-Imposed." The definition of "Self-Imposed" is "Imposed by oneself on oneself; voluntarily assumed or endured." We had high hopes of helping the system improve and progress from the inside by offering inmates practical opportunities to "help themselves." However, after reading this letter----it seems obvious that the State doesn't share our enthusiasm.
Male leadership this evening was very well done. I needed the message that was brought forth tonight.
~~~By the grace of God, I am what I am~~~
To watch video of Matt Maher Story go to http://www.themattmaherstory.com
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